2/20/92 — Our NICU Journey Day 96

This is Molly in an open crib. The cribs weren't exactly homey; with metal bars, they seemed more like a baby jail than a baby bed, but it was still more baby like than an isolette. And we knew that home was one step closer. The entire staff agreed that Molly was ready for the open crib, but Ike's nurse Jill had to fight for him to move. She kept saying that he was little, but old and that he was really acting like a big baby. In the end, she won a trial period for him. She was a fierce advocate for both babies, but particularly for Isaac. She really believed in him. Stay tuned to see how he did.

Isaac

You had a big surprise for us today. You are in an open crib. What a big boy! Jill fought for you and fought for you and said you could handle it.

Molly

And the big news is — you are in a crib. It’s not a very friendly crib, all metal, but it is a crib all the same, just like a real baby crib.

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Thank you for taking us on this journey with you! As you know, both of my girls were early (The Tortoise 8 1/2 weeks, The Hare 4 weeks) but I never had to endure what you went through. My anxiety and fear were minot compared to the days and days you waited with baited breath. What an amazing story. Big hugs to you and your family! You’re still one of my favorites on my blogroll.

Thanks for stopping by this new project. I love your blog, too. Babies are supposed to be born at 40 weeks and any time they are born early, it’s cause for concern and anxiety. When our babies came at 24 3/7s, it was after a difficult pregnancy and 11 days in the hospital. I think when a baby arrives early after a smooth pregnancy, it’s an even bigger shock. No one is prepared for the NICU (even if you have been there before!), and all we want is for our babies to be healthy and home. Best wishes to you and the Tortoise and the Hare. (Love those nicknames.)

just stumbled across your blog and am looking forward to learning more about your journey! the pictures of your babies make me feel grateful for my own preemie–born at a relatively late age of 33 weeks!

***sigh*** I remember when my babies came out of those isolettes. How exciting…and scary. It’s the little things that seem like BIG steps. I also remember being soooo excited when they FINALLY got the feeding tubes out. phew. Brings back memories, even though it hasn’t been to long.
Your babies just amaze me. What fighters!
Were you able to put them together at times? Do you think it helped them? I was so happy when I could put them together. It’s like they just knew.

You’re right, each little step on the NICU seemed huge to us. Our world was so small and so focused. I’m just putting together the posts for the next several days, so stay tuned for when they first get to visit together. I do think they shared a very special bond for a long time, and we kept them in the same crib for quite a while when they came home. I think they liked the warmth of being close to one another.

Look How We’ve Grown

The pictures in the banner at the top of this blog are Isaac shortly after birth (l), Ike and Molly in 2010 (c), and Molly shortly after birth (that's her dad's wedding ring dangling on her arm, just to put things in perspective).